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“That’s the first time I’ve ever heard you talk to Glenda like that,” Ari said, her voice filled with awe.
“You’re the one who told her about Kanon buying the tree,” she gently remonstrated.
Ari shot her a sheepish look. “Sorry. I knew she’d hate it and couldn’t resist.”
“It’s fine. Just to clarify, I don’t like being rude—it’s not right—but I had to draw a line.” Patience sent Kanon an apologetic look. “Sorry for creating such an uncomfortable moment.”
“Don’t ever apologize for standing up for yourself,” he said.
* * *
That evening, Ari decided to build a snowman. The sun had gone down, but there was a full moon and several floodlights in the backyard with motion detectors. The Devlins had let Bubba out to play, and he danced around Ari, chasing the stick she’d throw whenever he dropped it at her feet, while Patience sat with Kanon on the tiny back porch of her new place, drinking a cup of hot chocolate. When they’d returned from the store around one, he’d built the bookshelves while they decorated the tree. Then, saving the casserole the Devlins gave them for Sunday, Patience made her homemade meatballs and spaghetti with thick slices of fresh garlic bread—Ari’s favorite meal—while Kanon hung Christmas lights on the house.
Patience could see the reflection of the lights twinkling on the snow. The evening felt magical, like she’d stepped into a Hallmark movie.
“It’s getting cold out here,” Kanon commented.
“It is—and yet it’s hard to go in,” she said. She was reluctant to move, to change anything—wanted to live in this moment forever.
When he didn’t ask why, she figured he understood how much she was enjoying herself. He seemed to understand a lot of things without having to be told.
“You feeling okay about your father?” he asked as he set his empty cup on the small iron table between them.
“Haven’t thought much about him today.” She’d been too swept up in Kanon and the fun they were having.
“He hasn’t tried to reach you?”
She pulled her phone from her pocket and checked her messages, but she knew before she even looked that it was unlikely he would try to text or call. He was too proud. “No. If we’re going to get past this, I’ll have to be the one to call him.”
A muscle moved in Kanon’s cheek, but he said nothing.
“That rubs you the wrong way,” she guessed.
“I don’t like it,” he admitted.
She took another sip of the hot chocolate she’d made into Mexican hot chocolate by adding a little vanilla, cinnamon and chili powder—a recipe she’d found online. “He means well. He’s just very authoritative and unyielding. To him, there’s only one way—the right way.”
He arched an eyebrow at her. “And he’s the one who gets to determine—for everyone else—what the right way is?”
Kanon had a point. But she knew her father was unlikely to change. “It’s easier for me to say I’m sorry, I guess. Most of the time, I don’t mind. But I’m not ready. Not yet. I’ll have to figure out something soon, though.”
“Why?”
“Christmas is right around the corner. I don’t want to go through a major holiday estranged from my father, especially because Ari will want to include him in the celebrations.”
He stretched his legs out, crossing his booted feet at the ankles. “They get along, then?”
She nodded. “He adores her. He’s much easier on her than he ever was me. I’m not sure why.”
Bubba had darted over to say hello. Kanon leaned forward to give the dog a good scratch. “He doesn’t know how lucky he is to have you.” Bubba darted off as Kanon came to his feet and called out to Ari. “You ready to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas?”
She was laughing because Bubba had bounded over to lick her face while she was making a snow angel. “Who’s Charlie Brown again?” she quipped, being facetious.
“Your Christmas film education is seriously lacking,” he told her dryly. Then he looked at Patience. “You’ve got a great kid.”
Patience smiled fondly at her daughter. “She doesn’t seem to be too upset about her father’s divorce. Or moving here. So that’s good.”
“I think she’s mature enough to realize that you’re important, too. That speaks volumes about the kind of person she is. You take care of her—she takes care of you.”
